Convent and Primary School in Honor Oak,
of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Francesca Saverio Cabrini (1850-1917) was born to a humble family in Sant'Angelo Lodigiano just outside the Lombard town of Lodi in Italy.
After a period as a teacher she founded the religious order of The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and obtained from Pope Pio XII, in 1887, approval and permission to dedicate their work to Italian emigrants most of whom were in America.

The order later spread to France, Spain and England founding numerous dispensaries, hospitals, colleges, orfanages, laboratories and rest homes for the aged. She died in Chicago USA where she had created the impressive Columbus Hospital and was, in 1946, the first American citizen to be canonised.

In the early 1900s Mother Cabrini established a foundation in Brockley. When Mother Francesca (now Saint Francesca Cabrini) visited London she came to Mass to worship in our Parish Church. Later the Convent of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart established a school in 1902 at Honor Oak. In the 1930s the school, called the High School, also had boarders.
In 1953 the School became Voluntary Aided, in 1993 Grant Maintained and in 2000 back to Voluntary Aided.

Today the Sisters live in the Sacred Heart Convent, once known as Woodville Hall at Honor Oak. The Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart have many foundations throughout the world, mainly in the field of education.

RETURN to Parish History